What better way to begin the final chapter of 2020 but with elective surgery?? Back in 2008 I tore my ACL skiing. The first ACL graft lasted 3 years. The next two only lasted 6 months each so in 2012 I decided to try to live the rest of my life without an ACL. Even though I gave up skiing the knee instability led to significant damage that was starting to cause pain. So, on Aug. 31st I returned to the Steadman clinic in Vail for a new ACL graft, two meniscus root tear repairs, micro-fracturing of my tibia to stimulate tissue growth where I had lost all of my cartelage, and a modification to my IT band to give my leg more stability. Just like the year 2020, the surgery was a disappointment as Dr. Hackett (that’s right, Hackett is my surgeons name) found the femoral bone tunnel inadequate and instead just did a bone graph to strengthen the femur. Part II will happen after 4 months for the bone graph to heal.
Angela’s sister Sandy and partner Steve flew out from Ft. Lauderdale in September to spend a week with us at our place in Frisco. Sandy and Steve are always a lot of fun and we enjoy our time together.
The worst fire season in Colorado’s history continued through October with huge fires as in the photo above about 10 miles north of Frisco, on the Western Slope, and in the Front Range near Ft. Collins and Boulder.
Ryan and Mattie broke away from their home in Denver to visit with us and take in some mountain hiking and kayaking.
We said good bye to our summer rental in Frisco in late October. We learned that we wanted to have our own place in Frisco but the pandemic had generated one of the hottest real estate markets and while we looked at many places to buy we had yet to find “Our” place.
In October for Graham’s 6th birthday we gave him the gift of saving money. With his Dad’s help he opened up a savings account with a starting deposit from Nana and Papa hopefully starting a life long habit.
We learned that our cats Max and Stella are not only impervious from the side effects of the pandemic, but they relish in sheltering in place.
Ryan also spent some time entertaining Graham and Miles with some two on one loving.
On December 4th we closed on our new 2nd home in Frisco. The search was over and we began the process of making it ours.
Oh yea, I almost forgot we got a new dog the week we bought our new place. Ever since we had to put Abby to rest in 2016 Angela has wanted a dog so why not go big as 2020 comes to a close? I knew I wouldn’t be much fun for Angela for a few months after my next knee surgery so we found “Lucky” at a shelter near Denver that rescues dogs from the Navajo reservation near Four Corners. So far, he’s turning out to be a great dog. I’m sure he’ll soon be challenging me in Angela’s hierarchy of LOVE.
Baby Merritt shows off her new pajamas and robe from Nana in front of the Christmas tree in Frisco.
The before picture of my right knee on December 21st during the pre-op of the second phase of my knee reconstruction. Is it wrong for me to be partial to shaving my legs after seeing this?🤔
That swollen flesh colored balloon is my knee as I begin my long recovery two days after the surgery. I’ll be 6 weeks non-weight bearing and for the first two weeks rotating in and out of an ice machine and continuous motion machine while I’m waited on and cared for by Angela. We decided to spend the first month of my recovering in our new place in Frisco as it was close to the Steadman clinic and Howard Head therapy. There’s still so much to do at the new place but for now I’ll just have to be patient and focus on my recovery. 🤞
Adam (and Ryan) helped out finishing some of our new IKEA bedroom furniture.
We had lots of family visits over the holiday as Miles and....
Graham explored a childhood pastime of mine, Lincoln Logs.
And on New Years Eve Michelle, Adam, Graham, and Merritt helped Angela and I celebrate my 63rd birthday. It’s been a challenging year but also a very good one and we have so much to be thankful for. Good Bye 2020 and hello to 2021. May it be a wonderful, joyous and healthy new year for us all!!
